Common Kukri is the most widely distributed Kukri Snake (genus Oligodon) found in wide range of forests and lands. Can be identified easily by checking brown dorsal, blackish bands and black arrow shaped markings on head. This is one of the most common semi-fossorial snake found in whole of Indian mainland except North-east states.
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Coluber arnensis Shaw, 1802 |
| synonym | Coluber russelius Daudin 1803 (fide Smit H 1943) |
| synonym | Coluber russelius Daudin, 1803 |
| synonym | Coronella Russelii Schlegel 1837 |
| synonym | Coronella russelii Schlegel, 1837 |
| synonym | Oligodon arnensis Das 1996 |
| synonym | Oligodon arnensis Murthy 2010 |
| synonym | Oligodon arnensis Smith 1943 |
| synonym | Oligodon arnensis Wall 1921 |
| synonym | Oligodon arnensis Wallach et al. 2014 |
| synonym | Oligodon arnesis Fellows 2015 (in error) |
| synonym | Simotes albiventer Günther 1864 (fide Smith 1943) |
| synonym | Simotes albiventer Günther, 1864 |
| synonym | Simotes arnensis Boulenger, 1890 |
| synonym | Simotes arnensis Wall 1908 |
| synonym | Simotes Russelii Duméril, Bibron & Duméril 1854 |
| synonym | Simotes russelii Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 |
| synonym | Simotes Russelii Jan 1865 |
🗒 Common Names
| English |
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| Other |
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📚 Overview
Summary
Reptile group
snakes
Brief
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Scales in 17:17:15 rows. Ventrals 161-199 males, 166-201 females angulate laterally; anal usually subdivided; sub caudals 41-59 paired.
Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot
| Attributions | Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Diagnostic Keys
Head:
7 (rarely 6 or 8) supralabials, 3rd & 4th in contact with eyes; 1 preocular; loreal 1 or absent; 2 (rarely 1) postocular; temporals 1+2.
Dorsal:
Scales smooth with 17 :17: 15 rows
Ventral:
161-199 (Male) 166-201 (Female); anal mostly divided.
Sub Caudal:
41-59; divided.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
References
eng: Common kukri snake, eng: Banded kukri
Curated from The Reptile Database
| Attributions | Curated from The Reptile Database |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Natural History
Reproduction
Reproductive mode (Reptiles)
Oviparous
New born usually seen from monsoon to late winters which is evidence that mating and egg laying occurs during most of the year. Female lays 3-9 eggs in narrow cracks, mounds, under loose roots of vegetation etc during summer and monsoon months.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Morphology
Dorsal -
Body slender with glossy, subequal and smooth scales. Dorsal color grayish-brown with blackish bands present from neck to end of the tail. These bands are broadest on top and tapers on flank. Juveniles have dense bands as compared to adults. Number of such bands vary from 10 to 30 or very rarely absent.
Ventral -
Belly enamel white without any pattern. Subcaudal scales paired in zig-zag manner.
Head -
Snout pointed with large A shaped rostral, head slightly or not broader than neck. One specific A shape mark (in Zebra pattern) present on the top which starts from frontal, pass through parietal and reaches to 1-3 ventrals. Small ryes have rounded pupil. Sharp Kukri knife shape teeth present on back side of mouth which are useful to tear eggs from side and biting enemy.
Tail -
Prehensile, of normal length and ends with pointed tip. Typical blackish bands present in most of the individuals.
Prehensile, of normal length and ends with pointed tip. Typical blackish bands present in most of the individuals.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Look Alikes
In East Indian states where Common Kukri is sympatric to Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus) looks close to juvenile of later.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Behaviour
Common Kukri is a nocturnal and semi-fossorial species which sometimes shows activity at day time also. Foraging is done terrestrially. Behavior shy, elusive and mostly non-offensive. On provocation throw its body into loose coil by folding tail and making loops of forebody at some height from ground. Inflated neck can be seen at the same time as aggressive response which is followed by mock attacks. On catching such aggressive individuals this species slits the skin of enemy from either side of head with sharp "Kukri knife" shaped tooth.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Trophic Strategy
Feeds on small prey including insects, larvae, reptile eggs, small rodents, skinks etc. It slits soft eggs with its "Kukri knife" shaped teeth, enter the head inside egg and take egg yolk only as diet.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat includes variety of forests including rainforest, dry, mixed and moist deciduous forests, scrub forest, agricultural lands etc. Found in dense vegetation having loose roots, loose soil, garden, rocky terrain, wetness etc. This is one of commonest snake of India which is confined to modified habitat like agricultural lands, gardens and urban settlements. Remain hidden in mounds, piles, cracks, loose roots, under wooden logs during day time.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Forests and human habitations
Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot
| Attributions | Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Description
All over the India including deserts, Himalayan foothills. Not found in Northern parts of West Bengal to whole of North-east and Indian islands. Also found in Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Throughout India
Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot
| Attributions | Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Threats
Threats includes killing due to misidentification, road kills, digging its habitat as it’s a semi-fossorial species etc. However this species is well settled in manipulated lands also so habitat destruction seems not affeting its overall population.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Protection Legal Status
Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule 4.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
📚 Information Listing
References
- Whitaker, R. and Captain, A .2004. Snakes of India. The Field Guide. Draco Books.Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu,xiv+479, pls, text-figs.
- Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 11/12/2018
Overview > Diagnostic > Diagnostic Keys
- David P., Das I., Vogel G. (2011) On some taxonomic and nomenclatural problems in Indian species of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata: Colubridae). Zootaxa 2799: 1–14
- Whitaker R., Captain A. (2004) Snakes of India, The Field Guide. Draco Books
- Chikane S., Bhosale H. (2012) Reptiles of Kaas, Northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, with notes on habitat preferences, abundances and threats. Sauria, Berlin, 34 (3): 3–15
- Ganesh S. R., Asokan J. R. (2010) Catalogue of Indian herpetological specimens in the collection of the Government Museum Chennai, India. Hamadryad Vol. 35 (1), pp. 46 – 63
- Günther A. (1864) The reptiles of British India. London: Published for the Ray Society by Robert Hardwicke
- Murthy T. S. N. (1990) Illustrated Guide to the Snakes of the Western Ghats, India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper No. 114
- Smith M. A. (1943) The fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma including the whole of The Indo-Chinese Sub-region, Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol 3, Serpentes. Taylor & Francis, London.
- Wall F. (1908) Notes on snakes collected in Fyzabad. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (18), pp. 101-129
- Whitaker R. (2005) Common Indian Snakes, A Field Guide. Macmillian Publishers
- Dutta S. K., Acharjyo L. N. (1995) Herpetofaunal resources and their conservation in Orissa, India. Zoos’ Print, Vol. 10 (7), pp. 5-8
- Jadhav A. S., Padgonkar A. S. (2008) Histology of parathyroid gland of the snake Oligodon arnensis (Shaw). J Endocrinol Reprod 12 (2), 87-89
- Murthy T. S. N. (2010) The reptile fauna of India. B. R. Publishing Corporation
- Boulenger G. A. (1890) The fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Taylor and Francis.
- Chandra K., Gajbe P. U. (2005) An inventory of herpetofauna of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Zoos' Print Journal 20 (3): 1812-1819
- Kannan P., Venkatraman C. (1998) Reptile fauna of Siruvani Hills, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu. Cobra, Vol. 33, pp. 6-9
- Srinivasulu C., Das I. (2008) The herpetofauna of Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India: an annotated checklist, with remarks on nomenclature, taxonomy, habitat use, adaptive types and biogeography. Asiatic Herpetological Research, Vol. 11, pp.110–131
- Green M. D. (2010) Molecular phylogeny of the snake Genus Oligodon (Serpentes: Colubridae), with an annotated checklist and key. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
- Boulenger G. A. (1894) Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 2, London: Taylor and Francis.
- Wallach V., Williams K. L., Boundy J. (2014) Snakes of the World: A catalogue of living and extinct species. Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
Information Listing > References
- Whitaker, R. and Captain, A .2004. Snakes of India. The Field Guide. Draco Books.Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu,xiv+479, pls, text-figs.
- Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 11/12/2018
Albinism in a Monocled Cobra, Naja kaouthia (Lesson 1831), from Northeastern India
MK
Monish Kumar ThapaVertebrate fauna of the Chambal River Basin, with emphasis on the National Chambal Sanctuary, India
Jo
Journal of Threatened TaxaNo Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Colubridae |
| Genus | Oligodon |
| Species | Oligodon arnensis (Shaw 1802) |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
